Have to put a few words in here abouth insurance companies - it is related to
LBCs although I'm mostly blowin' steam. In mid January, while driving home
from lunch with the wife and my four kids (all under 7), a 20 year old runs a
stop sign in his 70 "primer gray rusted good-for-nuthin" Nova causing a
collision (fortunately, we were in our 93 Caprice "Battleship" station wagon
and are all OK). Short of the story is this -I have use ALLSTATE for the last
10 years to cover all our family cars and I am willing to pay the extra
because I Allstate is suppose to provide excellent service. I even let one of
Allstate's body shops do the work (this is a shop where there is an agreement
with Allstate for discounted repairs) which saves Allstate a bundle of cash.
Finally, the accident is completely chargable to the other driver's insurance
company. Well, the car is suppose to be ready to leave the shop today and
yesterday I got a call from the shop owner telling me that an Allstate
adjuster stopped by and started disallowing certain damage because they were
not, in the opinion of the adjuster, accident related - to boot, this adjuster
just left for a 2 week vacation. When I called Allstate, blowing a cork at
this turn of events, I was told that the adjusted had the final word (of
course he won't be back for two weeks) although she would discuss it with the
supervisor and get back to me (no call yet). I think this is despicable and
unacceptable and am taking it further up the line. ALL of the damage on the
car was accident related and signed off by a previous Allstate adjuster - the
implication of the second adjuster that I am committing fraud is most
insulting. Also - the damage that is in dispute is probably less than $100 to
repair (a broken button on the window controller caused by my wife's hand
during impact, the rear plastic wiper that cracked in two and a 4 inch scratch
on the roof caused by the movement of the magnetically held CB antenna at
impact). It just really pisses me off to have to go through the hassle,
inconvenience and humiliation of arguing with Allstate that I am not
defrauding them and that the disallowed repairs are in fact accident related
and legitimate. Not to mention the inconvenience of having to bring the car
back in after Allstate comes to its senses. I pay the extra premiums charged
by Allstate to avoid this type of hassle - if I wanted bad service I could go
anywhere.
Do I think you should defraud an insurance company - as much as I would like
to stick it to them because I'm so pissed - NO - it's wrong. When you have a
legitimate gripe let them know how pissed you are and make yourself into a
royal pain in the ass until they come around - including the insurance
commission in your state. You can always take the ultimate revenge and go
with another company and share with others, like I am doing here, how terrible
they were (If you are shopping for insurance now how many of you would have
Allstate at the top of your list of companies after hearing my little tale??).
Thanks for the vent, let me end by making this relevant to this group - this
could happen with your MG insurance company - I use American Collectors (a NJ
company) for my 2 Cs. I've never made a claim with them in the 6 years that
I've used them and frankly don't know if they would come through in a pinch.
I pay about $120 a year for $8,000 in loss coverage - there are a bunch of
restrictions (locked garage, no parking lots, 5,000 miles or less yearly) but
otherwise liberal compared to other classic car insurance companies (e.g.,
pleasure diving is allowed!!- not just to and from show, club or parade
events). Anyone have experience with American Collectors (claimwise) or
recommendations for other classic insurance providers?
Dr. Doug
69 C Rdst
69 C GT
69 B Rdst
70 B GT
----------
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net on behalf of D D B
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 1997 8:04 PM
To: mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: RFeibusch@aol.com: Re: wrecked 1979 Midget
Rick,
I and other payers of insurance appreciate your efforts to advise an
apparent honest dirver to be dishonest and try to commit Insurance fraud.
We appreciate having our rates go up due to people like you ,who put in
unwarranted bodily injury claims to drive up the costs of insurance - yes
it does get passed on eventually to "honest" insureds the next time a
rate increase comes about. Prove the damages you are owed and stick to
them don't invent ones that can backfire in your face.
Yes, I also work for an insurance company in property damage claims. I
work for a major company and if you have your insurance with a cut rate
company you may get what you pay for - there is such competition now that
the major players don't want unwarranted negative publicity.. Yes, like
all work environments, there are "bad" adjusters but few companys last
long with "bad" adjusters who have "bad" supervisors who in turn have
"bad" superiors. My message - if you feel you aren't being treated
fairly have your proof and go to the the adjusters supervisor and work
your way up the line if necessary - DON'T RESORT TO FRAUD!!!!
I think Ray was going about things the right way - get as much info as
possible so you have your proof to show the adjuster. Most will find it
hard to refute facts given to them up front vs later when they have
arrived at a figure they feel is right and it becomes a battle of wills
vs facts..
I think most of us have heard the horor stories of the bad adjusters. I
don't try to profess they no longer exist - they do. Again don't get in
a battle with them - go up the line until you get someone more
reasonable. If you have your "proof" most companies don't want bad
publicity. Most of those companies who don't care usually don't want the
courts involved.
Go ahead I'm sure there are people ready to flame but I would rather see
this one drop - except for legit offers of help for Ray.
Denny
--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: RFeibusch@aol.com
To: r-james@tamu.edu
Cc: british-cars@autox.team.net, mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: wrecked 1979 Midget
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1997 06:23:15 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <970226062314_-1105673006@emout13.mail.aol.com>
Once again, Any of you listers out there able to help dis guy?
He wrote:
Rick:
I noticed on the british-cars list that you are an appraiser;
can you offer me any strategy regarding my problem, which
is outlined in the post (repeated below) that I sent to
the british-cars list today?
Thanks for any advice you might offer.
Ray
----------------------------------
I am frustrated to report that my eldest son, Reuben,
has collided with a pick-up turning left in front of
him. No injuries, except to the Midget and pickup.
Accident was fault of the other driver, who "didn't see
you behind that truck".
Sadly, I had not yet fitted the Midget with a pick-up
whistle, thinking that they were of little benefit. However,
you will never see an LBC in my driveway without a pick-up
whistle in the future.
More seriously, I may be in the market for a few parts, or
maybe another automobile.
Anyone parting out a Midget who still has:
Hood (bonnet)
right fender (wing)
bumper (the black rubber kind!?)
and various other parts and trim that will go along with these
parts,
(or pick-up whistles)
...should please contact me directly.
I also will be trying to make a case that the replacement cost
(market value) is high, anticipating the appraiser will do the
opposite. Want ads for (especially 1979) Midgets for sale will
be appreciated; if by e-mail, please send me the text of any ads
you may see along with the name, date of the paper, etc. If by
US mail, my address is below.
Thanks in advance for any help you may have.
Ray
Any decent looking Midget that runs and drives HAS to be worth at least
$2500
unless it needs major work. I've seen a really nice "Spitfidget" sell
for
$4500, but it did take a long time and it went to Austrailia.
The insurance adjuster has no idea that these are hard to sell and is
required to fix yours to it's pre-accident condition or replace it with
one
that is in a simular condition, OR pay you off somewhat to your
satisfaction.
Start by collecting want ads for ANY rubber baby buggy bumpered Midget
'74 -
'80.
Did your son fall out of the car holding his head and moaning, then go to
the
hospital?
This is a far easier way to get the insurance company to pay off
than the use of hard work and logic.
See you on the Funway!
Rick Feibusch
Automotive Journalist/Appraiser
http://www.EnglishCars.com/rick.html
mailto:RFeibusch@aol.com
61 Minor pickup
60 Minor Saloon
59 Minor Convertible
69 Chevelle Malibu 350
--------- End forwarded message ----------
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